It’s a toe-biter. They have one of the most painful stings among insects.
IIRC, it’s not a venom sting per se. Rather, they inject a digestive enzyme that breaks down the tissues in your skin. So it feels like the sting site is on fire, as all the surrounding nerves slowly get digested.
It’s the same way they feed. They trap prey with those big pincers, then inject them with the digestive enzymes and wait for it to turn their prey into soup.
What’s the difference between a water beetle and water bug? Mostly that one’s a beetle and one’s a bug… They’re in the same class but different orders. Think of a ladybug (a beetle) vs stink bug (true bug)
Ooh is that a giant water beetle?
It’s a toe-biter. They have one of the most painful stings among insects.
IIRC, it’s not a venom sting per se. Rather, they inject a digestive enzyme that breaks down the tissues in your skin. So it feels like the sting site is on fire, as all the surrounding nerves slowly get digested.
It’s the same way they feed. They trap prey with those big pincers, then inject them with the digestive enzymes and wait for it to turn their prey into soup.
I just saw a thread about one of these Toe-Biters. Apparently, people named it Quentin Tarantino, and it got Salma Hayek once.
Close. Giant water bug (called “Toe Biters” in some places). Saw one army-crawling across a parking lot just yesterday!
what’s the difference?
What’s the difference between a water beetle and water bug? Mostly that one’s a beetle and one’s a bug… They’re in the same class but different orders. Think of a ladybug (a beetle) vs stink bug (true bug)
Giant black water beetle
Giant water bug
have you ever been bit by one?
Maybe? 🤔